Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
An hour before Doug’s actual burial, a wake was set up so that friends may see him for the last time. Mia stood next to his coffin, eyes damped from the nonstop tears that flowed since the moment he was pronounced dead. Erin bowed the third time as she approached his coffin, gazing at him “Rest in peace.” She whispered.
Mia nodded at her friend “Where’s Darren?”
Erin turned her head back to look for him but he was nowhere in sight “Mia, I think you owe him an explanation.”
She shook her head sadly “This is not the right time.” Her eyes moving down to Doug’s peaceful face. Touching him on the cheek, she sighed, “It’s too late.”
“I’m sorry.” Erin leaned over to hug her friend. Turning away, she left the tiny chapel. Her eyes searched as a few more guests arrived for the funeral. She found Darren leaning on a tree smoking quietly “Hey.” She greeted from behind.
He didn’t bother to turn back “I thought we were different.”
“You two are.” Erin insisted “What doesn’t break up a relationship can only make it stronger. If you are willing to forgive and forget. Think of Bonnie, growing up without a parent would be devastating, look at me.” He turned to her as she smiled.
“Would you forgive Brad if he cheated on you with your best friend?” he asked honestly. Slowly, her head moved downwards “That’s what I thought.” He turned back to his cigarette and distant thoughts.
Jenna’s eyes were puffy as she sat in a corner, Ryan sitting next to her “This is just a bad dream.” She said quietly “I’ll wake up eventually.”
“Don’t be like that.” Ryan coaxed “We have to face the truth one day.”
“But I want to be in denial right now.” She turned to him with ready tears “I miss him so much, Ryan.” She sniffed while he tried hard to contain the tears, afraid it would trigger her to sob again. Pulling her onto his shoulder, he patted her gently while she cried.
Erin found a marble bench outside the chapel where she sat by herself, collecting her thoughts. She didn’t see him as he took a seat next to her “What are you thinking about?”
“How this happened too fast.” She replied, eyes still gazing at the gray sky above.
Devin nodded “Yeah, maybe a little too fast.”
The hint in his voice made her look over at him “What do you mean?”
Smiling, he tilted his head “I think you already know.”
Sighing, she shook her head “Actually, for once I don’t.” suddenly it occurred to her “Where’s Matt? And Carmen?” He found it useless to hide anything from her. Pulling out a wrinkled letter, he gave it to her to read. It was a ransom letter from Hung Gor, they had captured Carmen. Erin folded the letter “What about Matt?”
“Reina killed a teammate, I doubt he will want to face anyone.” Devin assumed.
“Why do you think she did it?” Erin wondered.
Shrugging his shoulders, he replied “Love, protection, sacrificing…that’s only my guess.”
“Yeah, love makes you do crazy things.” She shook her head and then stopped to think “Wait…you don’t think he went to see Hung Gor do you?”
Devin eventually nodding “I think we’re already too late.”
*************
Digging through her drawers, he found a check signed by Hung Gor with an address. Desperate to save her, he left his home looking for the madman that would be Reina’s only way out. He found the address led him to an old alley. It looked more like a hide out. Before he could knock on the door, it swung open appearing Ah Gam “We thought you would be coming.” He waved him in.
Matt brushed away the feeling in the pit of his stomach as he followed Ah Gam through a hallway of maze “Where is he?”
“I’m taking you to him, isn’t that who you wanted to see?” he asked with raised brows. Matt nodded blankly while Ah Gam continued to glance at him from time to time “You could be killed.”
“I don’t care.” Matt answered honestly “Anything to save her.”
“Brave.” Ah Gam nodded without emotions. He reached a wooden door and knocked three times. When Hung Gor said the magic words, he opened the door and turned to Matt “It’s never too late to turn back.”
He looked at the guy strangely, wondering why he was warning him. Matt stepped inside the door was closed shut “Lieutenant!” Hung Gor greeted with a merry chuckle “It’s been a while!”
“We never met.” Matt said blankly.
“Yes, shame on me!” he hit himself and began laughing again “Who would have guessed you would come groveling at my feet. The leader of the P.R.A. What a joke!” he spat harshly.
He stared at the temperamental man “You know why I came, tell me what I need to do for you to help her.”
Hung Gor tilted his hand upward from the armrest “What makes you think I could help her?”
“Tell the judge that you asked her to kill Doug.” Matt knew it was absurd even before he said it. He would never go for it but he was desperate.
He threw his head back with a laugh “Yes and while I’m at it, I should just confess about all the murders that happened in the past ten years that went on undiscovered!” he shook his head while getting up to pour himself a glass of whiskey “You are quite a character, lieutenant.”
Matt fell to his knees, his last attempt “Please, I’m begging you. I can’t live without her, she doesn’t deserve this.”
“Because I do, right?” Hung Gor was relentless, giving him no reason “She vowed her life to this assassin group and what did she do? Turn around and backstab me by joining the P.R.A., a team designed to destroy people like us! You must be fucking out of your mind if you think I would help you!” he threw the glass cup against the wall as it crashed and splattered all over the ground.
Matt glared back with much hatred “How about Becca? You have her now, she was with the team originally.” He reminded the madman.
Nodding in agreement “You’re right.” Turning to the door, he cried out “Becca!!”
Seconds later, she entered the room. At first, she was surprised to see Matt kneeling but she quickly caught her cool “Hung Gor.” She didn’t forget to be respectful.
“Say, you remember the lieutenant don’t you?” he turned his eyes to Matt as she nodded “He is looking to save his precious fiancé, the traitor of the assassins. Let’s show him what we do to welcome our guests.”
Becca knelt down in front of Matt, her eyes dark but he could tell it wasn’t too late for her to turn back “He’s dead.”
She froze in place until Hung Gor cleared his throat, bringing her back to reality. Pulling out handcuffs, she pulled him to his feet and placed them on “How does it feel, lieutenant? To be handcuffed, betcha didn’t think you would ever be on that other side?” Hung Gor tempted “Tell me how far you would go to save little Reina?”
“I will do anything.” He vowed.
His lips curled crookedly “Destroy the P.R.A. I don’t care how it’s done, just get rid of it.”
Matt’s head began shaking slowly “No…I can’t.”
“Come now, give yourself more credit. You can do it. Really, what is in exchange for that? Your fiance’s safety, her freedom, your future as husband and wife. Do you care for this team? You do not owe anyone anything. Especially the team.” Hung Gor nodded to Becca as she realized what he was telling her to fetch. His eyes widened when she didn’t move. But one look, she knew what she had to do. Walking around his desk to a cabinet, she pulled out a metal box, inside was a leather whip that was never used “I bought this at an auction years ago but never got a chance to use it. I hear it rips through the skin sharper than a carving knife.”
“You can do what you want with me, but I cannot betray the team.” Matt stood his ground.
“Suit yourself.” Hung Gor nodded to Becca, whose mind was in space “Becca!!” he barked.
She stammered in reply “Ye…Yes?” he flicked his head towards Matt as she nodded. Looking at the whip in her hand, she gripped it tight and whipped it towards him, her eyes tightly closed. She could hear the cracking against the skin, it had sliced through his shirt.
Holding in the cries, he began perspiring after the second whip “So, how does it feel?” Hung Gor laughed “Is the team worth it now?”
Matt knew he what he was getting into before he stepped foot in the room. Shaking his head stubbornly “Joe handpicked each and every one of the members on the team.” He grunted when another whip hit him on the chest but still he continued, “He always said, each person is special in their own way. Regardless of what the future will hold…Ah!” he finally cried in pain when he couldn’t take it anymore “Once an agent, always an agent.” His words caught her off guard as she paused at another whip.
“Becca!!!” Hung Gor commanded. She turned to him, eyes distant. Losing patience, he got up and retrieved the whip from her hand and began slashing at him until he fell to his knees dripping in sweat and blood. Angry, he threw the whip aside and yelled “Ah Gam!” the assassin entered the room “Take him out!”
“Yes.” He bowed politely and took Matt to the cage room. He was barely able to walk as he fell into the cage in pain “I warned you.” Ah Gam said before raising the cage upwards.
“Matt!!” Carmen called from her own cage “What the hell did you do to him?!!” She cried, glaring at Ah Gam with much hatred.
He tilted his head at Carmen “What did I do? Do you blame me for everything?” he asked. She turned her head away, not willing to answer him “You’ll regret ever treating me that way!” he threatened and walked out before slamming the metal door shut.
“He’s not moving.” Luke noticed.
“Matt!” Carmen tried again.
“I’m okay.” Matt’s voice was barely audible but the room was silent enough to hear a pin drop. He turned over on his back and quickly noticed they were all caged “What a crazy bastard.”
Carmen laughed despite their situation “He’s okay.” She grinned happily “Why did you come? Devin said that no one knew of my separate mission.”
He pulled himself into a sitting position as the cage swung here and there “What separate mission?”
“He knew Luke and Jessie were captured and somehow he found out where they were taken. On the day of the Time Square mission, he asked if I would do a separate mission for him. Unfortunately, I failed.” She lowered her head in shame.
Matt shook his head “No…he wouldn’t expect you to succeed.”
“So he wanted this to happen?” Carmen asked in confusion “I don’t get it.”
“Does it matter? God knows how long we’ll be here.” Luke said without feeling “What are you doing here anyways?” he asked Matt curiously.
“Redeem Reina’s life.” He said. He turned to them “She killed Doug and is in jail for murder.” He explained shortly.
“What?!” Carmen shrieked “What…why…why?”
"Oh my GOd..." Luke gasped.
Jessie was in and out of consciousness but she knew what she heard. Rolling onto her stomach and using the bars to help her up, she gasped “Matt…what…what did you say?”
He quickly noticed Carmen’s shaking head, warning him not to repeat it to the fragile girl “Nothing…I didn’t say anything.”
“No, he didn’t.” Carmen agreed. Clearing her throat at Luke, she widened her eyes at him.
“Right, I didn’t hear anything.” Luke said hastily.
Jessie shook her head “No…you did…you said Reina killed Doug. He…he’s dead?” she could feel the tears ready to explode “Tell me!” she yelled.
Carmen turned to the hurt girl “Jessie…”
“So it’s true…” she turned away while tears began to flow with ease “Doug…” she realized the name would never escape her lips again.